Monterey airport unlikely to feel impact of sequestration

The federal sequestration of funds isn't likely to have much effect on Monterey Regional Airport operations, said airport district manager Tom Greer.

"I've talked to the (air traffic control) people here," he said Tuesday, "and right now it doesn't look like they're going to be affected, at least initially."

Officials have said that if Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration sequestration cuts go into effect, air traffic controllers and TSA personnel may have to take furlough days, which could make for fewer flights and longer security lines.

That shouldn't be the case in Monterey, Greer said.

The airport tower shuts down by 9 p.m., Greer said. It is operated by controllers 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The TSA, whose employees examine baggage and passengers before boarding, don't have a sense that operations will be slowed down or congested in Monterey, he said, adding there are about 50 TSA workers in Monterey.

Greer noted the FAA, which employs air traffic controllers, "is saying they could probably absorb one furlough day per pay period. They're not expecting it to have a significant impact."

Most likely to feel the federal funding pinch, Greer said, will be the major metropolitan airports, rather than small airports like Monterey's.